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With 19 million acres to explore, a visit to Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is best enjoyed with the expertise of an experienced guide. See ANWR’s iconic landscapes—the Brooks Range, the Jago Uplands, the Beaufort Sea—by foot, raft or kayak. Arctic foxes, wolves, grizzly and polar bears, Dall sheep, moose and wolverine inhabit these varied ecosystems. But the wildlife highlight of ANWR is the spring migration and calving of Porcupine Caribou.

Base Camp

Hiking in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is somewhat strenuous, so if you’d like something mellower, look for a base camp tour that allows you to leave your gear behind while taking day hikes from a single location. A base camp is the best way to observe the caribou calving in June, allowing you access to wildlife viewing day after day. Arctic Treks Box 73452 Fairbanks, AK 99707 907-455-6502 www.arctictreksadventures.com Arctic Wild Box 80562 Fairbanks, AK 99708 888-577-8203 www.arcticwild.com

River Rafting

There is no shortage of rivers to run in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Hulahula River (named by whaling Hawaiians) crosses the coastal plain with Class III rapids as it winds its way down from the Arctic Divide, ending within miles of the Arctic Ocean. For a gentler float, try the Sheenjek River. It flows through a peaceful valley and spruce forest filled with wildlife. The Kongakut River takes in all the classic arctic views as it runs from mountains to valleys, through canyons to the plains. ANWR rafting tours generally spend three to six hours a day on the water and take some layover days, allowing you to explore by foot. They run from mid-June until September. Arctic Wild Box 80562 Fairbanks, AK 99708 888-577-8203 www.arcticwild.com ABEC Alaska Adventures, LLC P.O. Box 10791 Fairbanks, AK 99710 877-424-8907 www.abecalaska.com/arcticocean.html Arctic Treks Box 73452 Fairbanks, AK 99707 907-455-6502 www.arctictreksadventures.com

Polar Bear Tours

In September, polar bears come down to Barter Island where Inupiat Eskimo bring the remains of whales they have hunted. They leave the bones and parts they do not use for the bears. Tours take you close to their feeding grounds in the safety of a vehicle from which you can view and photograph these white giants. This is also a great time of year to view the Northern Lights. Arctic Treks Box 73452 Fairbanks, AK 99707 907-455-6502 www.arctictreksadventures.com